Heel pain is one of the most common causes of foot pain in the world. There are a few different conditions that can cause heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is a "wear and tear" type of injury to a ligament on the bottom of the foot that attaches from the heel and across the plantar arch to the toes called the Plantar Fascia. It is the most common reason for heel pain. It causes pain on the bottom of the heel and sometimes in the arch of the foot.

 

Sometimes a plantar heel spur can also be present in association with plantar fasciitis, but is not usually the cause of pain on the bottom of the heel. The presence of a plantar heel spur and pain from plantar fasciitis is usually referred to "heel spur syndrome". Some people can have an incidental finding of plantar heel spurs or an Achilles heel spur on an X-ray, but not necessarily have pain due to either condition.

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Other causes of heel pain exist. And there are many treatments for all types of heel pain. An evaluation by an experienced foot surgeon that specializes in heel pain treatment is necessary for the proper diagnosis and treatment options and recommendations. Sometimes plantar fasciitis can be treated with conservative therapies. If it is not diagnosed properly or does not respond to conservative therapies, it can linger and become a chronic condition after 4-6 months which remains painful and is often harder to treat effectively. These have traditionally required open or arthroscopic surgical intervention.

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Doctor Pero performs both arthroscopic and minimally-invasive procedures in the outpatient or office setting for plantar fasciitis to help patients end their pain. These can usually be performed within 2 months of the onset of pain if needed and have great success rates, greater than 85% - 95%. These techniques require additional training and expertise, and often result in:

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- smaller incisions which usually require minimal to no stitches

- minimal to no scarring

- less pain

- less swelling

- ability to walk immediately after surgery

- less risk for infection

- less risk for blood clots

- less downtime

- early recovery

- ability to go back to work sooner

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These advantages make it a superior treatment option for those who qualify as a candidate for minimally-invasive procedures for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis or heel spur syndrome.